James Higson

You need to block up the door a bit, you're losing all the heat with a big open front like that.

No worries! Yeah the wool (superwool) makes the forge significantly more insulated, with the brick as a durable front surface. Effectively, it's more efficient. You can get along without it but if you dont want to spend tons on propane it might be worth getting a layer of superwool and putting it between the brick and the inside of the forge body.

Looks very clean, well done. Any wool behind the fire brick? If possible, it's best to have the burner come in at around 10 degrees to one side so you get a little swirling effect in the flame. This allows for a more even heat of your steel.

Very impressive, I love yew and it complements the sheath colour well.

I was absolutely gobsmacked when sam said 'let's have a run down the forge, I've got something to show you' haha. Never expected the phoenix to arise! Good luck with woody, hope he also rises!

Very cool so far! Are they cast or filed fittings?

I'd be a little careful with anything that needs you to heat the casting, especially building a fire around it. The ram casing has some pretty small tolerances and warps could bugger the whole lot. That said, my old hammer went through my workshop fire that destroyed everything and John Nicholson managed to get it up and running again! My tuppence would be, bolt the living hell out of it as alan said.

Always keen for a good binge of knife related material! And this doesnt disappoint. Love the bloom material. Cheers!

Beautiful! Love the large contrast between the dark wood and bright fittings. +1 on the apocalypse sword market

For ladder pattern it doesnt matter if you forge the tip but the flow of the pattern will likely look better if you do.

Love the sculpting on the handle! How did you do the runes? Did you engrave them or etch?

Ferric chloride is ideal. I use a 1:2 dilution with water (if you buy the anhydrous stuff). I like deep etches so do multiple 20min soaks, wiping off the oxides and then polishing with 1500grit hand sandpaper between soaks.

Yes you definitely can weld them and yes they will etch well, if hardened. Etch is a personal thing, some go deep, some go shallow.

Ooo havent heard of that one! Is D2 hardenable?

Cheers guys! I'll check it out